The 5 moments for hand hygiene

The World Health Organization (WHO) approach being implemented as part of the Hand Hygiene New Zealand programme identifies the following five moments for hand hygiene as critical to the prevention and control of infections. Please click on each moment for further information.

Moment 1: Before patient contact

Why: To protect the patient against harmful germs carried on your hands.When:

Moment 3: After a procedure or body fluid exposure risk

Why: To protect yourself and the healthcare environment from harmful patient germs.

When:

After any Moment 2

See Moment 2

After any potential body fluid exposure

Contact with a used urinary bottle/bedpan, with sputum either directly or indirectly via a cup or tissue, contact with used specimen jars/pathology samples, cleaning dentures, cleaning spills of urine, faeces or vomit from patient surroundings

Moment 4: After patient contact

Why: To protect yourself and the healthcare environment from harmful patient germs.

When:

After any Moment 1 except where there has been a potential body fluids exposure

See Moment 1 and 2

Moment 5: After contact with patient surroundings

Why: To protect yourself and the healthcare environment from harmful patient germs.

When:

After touching the patient’s immediate surroundings when the patient has not been touched.